GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 180840Z SEP 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1648 OF 18 SEPTEMBER
FOR WEBB-JOHNSON
MACLENNAN INQUIRY REPORT.
Hicle
REVID IN REMETRY NO. 519
1 8 SEP 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
PA
L.A.E.
18/9
RMISTRY Action Taken
Pas 1819
See (33
FOLLOWING EXCO DECISION THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THE REPORT ARE TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE 29 SEPTEMBER TOGETHER WITH ENGLISH AND CHINESE SUMMARIES. UNTIL THEN THE REPORT AND PUBLICATION
DATE REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL
2. WE ARE FORWARDING SEVEN ADVANCE COPIES OF THE ENGLISH VERSION WITH A REQUEST FOR DISPOSAL AS FOLLOWS:
(A) ONE FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND RETENTION:
(B) ONE FOR MR M NELIGAN QC (ORIGINAL COUNSEL TO THE INQUIRY) = (C) ONE FOR MR J C BEVERIDGE QC (LEADING COUNSEL TO THE INQUIRY): (D) MR A LEGGATT QC (COUNSEL REPRESENTING HE AND HKG) :
(E) ONE TO MESSRS CHARLES RUSSELL AND CO (LONDON SOLICITORS WHO ASSISTED IN BRIEFING COUNSEL AND OVERSEAS EXPERTS)
AND
(F) TWO COPIES TO MR C SEAGROATT (COUNSEL FOR MACLENNAN FAMILY). 3. SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTUAL DISTRIBUTION AS FOLLOWS:
(1) COPIES IN (B), (C),(D) AND (E) MIGHT BE SENT TO MESSRS CHARLES
RUSSLL AND CO (LONDON SOLICITORS WHO ASSISTED IN ENGAGING AND BRIEFING COUNSEL AND OVERSEAS EXPERTS) WHO MIGHT AGREE TO DISTRIBUTE TO MESSRS NELIGAN, LEGGATT AND BEVERIDGE WHOSE ADDRESSES AND WHEREABOUTS ARE KNOWN TO CHARLES RUSSELL:
(11) AS REGARDS (F), ONE COPY IS FOR MR SEAGRO ATT HIMSELF AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MACLENNAN FAMILY AND THE SECOND COPY IS FOR THE MACLENNAN PARENTS. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSULT MR SEAGRO ATT (WHOSE ADDRESS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM CHARLES RUSSELL) ON WHETHER HE WILL ARRANGE DELIVERY TO MACLENNAN'S PARENTS OR WHETHER YOU SHOULD DO SO TO REACH THEM BY THE 28 SPETEMBER. WHATEVER MEANS IS ADOPTED PLEASE ASK THAT CONTENTS OF THE REPORT AND DATE OF PUBLICATION ARE NOT REVEALED BEFORE PUBLICATION IN HK A.M. 29
SEPTEMBER.
4. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE THE REPORT IS PUBLISHED THE PRESS (INCLUDING SCMP) ARE LIKELY TO SEEK COMMENTS FROM THE MACLENNAN PARENTS. THAT IS WHY WE WOULD WISH THEM TO HAVE A COPY BEFORE POSSIBLE PRESS ENQUIRIES ARISE FROM PUBLICATION.
5. WE ARE ARRANGING DESPATCH BY DHL COURIER SERVICE FOR DELIVERY TO YOU ON MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, AS NEXT DIPLOMATIC BAG NOT DUE IN LONDON UNTIL START OF BUSINESS FRIDAY 25
MACLEHOSE MINITAC HKG)
HONG KONG GOVT of free
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